Electric Vehicle Drive Motor Cooling with Mechanical and Electric Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicles face inefficiencies in cooling the driving power device, particularly when relying solely on mechanical pumps for heat management.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle configuration that includes both a mechanical pump and an electric pump, with an electric pump control system to adjust the operation based on cooling requirements, ensuring effective cooling while minimizing electric power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only a mechanical pump is used to supply coolant, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling capability becomes insufficient for high heat generation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated structure. The mechanical pump serves dual purposes: it provides baseline cooling during normal operation and can be supplemented by the electric pump when additional cooling capacity is required. This multi-functional design allows the system to adapt to varying cooling demands without requiring completely separate cooling systems for different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system transitions from a static, fixed-capacity mechanical pump to a dynamic, variable-capacity system by introducing an electric pump that can be activated based on real-time cooling requirements. The control unit dynamically adjusts the cooling capacity by switching between mechanical pump-only mode and combined mechanical-electric pump mode, allowing the system to respond flexibly to changing heat generation conditions in the driving power device.
2Reliability
If the electric pump operates continuously to ensure sufficient cooling, then the cooling capability is improved, but the electric power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, the electric pump is activated periodically and intermittently based on the actual cooling requirements detected by the control unit. The control system monitors the cooling demand and switches the electric pump on only when the mechanical pump's cooling capacity is insufficient, and switches it off when the mechanical pump can handle the cooling load alone. This periodic activation pattern significantly reduces electric power consumption while maintaining adequate cooling capability throughout various operating conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances cooling efficiency of the driving power device, reducing the operational time and power consumption of the electric pump, thereby improving thermal management and reducing the risk of heat-related damage.
Implementation Method 1
the mechanical pump is mechanically driven by the driving motor, and supplies to the heat generating component the coolant in an amount which is proportional to a rotational speed of the driving motor
Implementation Method 2
an electric pump which supplies the coolant to the heat generating component
Implementation Method 3
a driving power device which includes at least one heat generating component which generates heat during an operation of the heat generating component
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle comprises a driving power device which drives a wheel and includes a heat generating component which includes a heat generating component and generates heat during an operation thereof; a mechanical pump which is mechanically driven by the driving motor and supplies a coolant in an amount proportional to a rotational speed of the driving motor to the heat generating component; an electric pump which supplies the coolant to the heat generating component; and an electric pump control section which controls an operation of the electric pump; wherein the electric pump control section causes the electric pump to be driven upon determining that a required cooling capability value is larger than a mechanical cooling capability value of the mechanical pump, and stops causing the electric pump to be driven when the required cooling capability value is smaller than the mechanical cooling capability value.